(Revelation 2:8-11)

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  I know your afflictions and your poverty -- yet you are rich!  I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death".

Smyrna was an inland seaport about 50 miles north of Ephesus.  During Roman times it surpassed Ephesus both as a seaport & trading center, disputing with that city & Pergumum the claim to "the first city of Asia."  Many considered it to be the most brilliant city in all of Asia Minor.  Its streets were wide & paved.  It was widely celebrated for its schools of medicine & science.

The church in Smyrna is not mentioned much elsewhere in Scriptures, but based on this letter, it is apparent that the church in Smyrna was severely persecuted and suffered a great deal for maintaining their faith.  Yet it should be noted that this "poor persecuted church" received no condemnation whatsoever from the Lord in His letter to them, and only commendations and encouragement...

The Dispensational View of

the Letter to Smyrna

(100 A.D. to 312 A.D.)

This period is know in Church history as "the period of the Roman Persecution of the Church" for it was during this time period that more Christians suffered tremendous persecution and were killed than in any other specific time period.  During these years, some historians have estimated that up to 5 million Christians were martyred (killed) solely for their faith.  Before this point, Rome considered the Christian movement merely another Jewish matter.  However, as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, they were viewed as subversive elements to the Authority and Power of Rome (Christians would not accept Roman gods, pagan practices, and viewing the emperor himself as a god) and Rome began to make the conscious effort to completely eliminate Christians from the face of the earth.  They were not allowed to participate in commerce (the letter refers to being poor), were frequently tortured and killed (the letter refers to being persecuted).  Yet, ironically, in spite of all this, the Church continued to grow like wildfire in number.  Also, their passion for Jesus was very strong.  One could not be indifferent or "lukewarm" for Jesus during this time period.  You were either stone cold and not in the church or you were hot for Jesus and persecuted.

The 10 days of Tribulation appear to possibly also represent a prophetic message for this church age, referring to 10 literal periods of suffering under 10 different Roman Emperors -- Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Severus, Maximinius, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian,  and Diocletian.  Diocletian also tried to destroy the Bible from the face of the earth.

Personal Application

The letter to this church is a direct contradiction to the "health, wealth, and prosperity" Gospel so often taught today.  That God wants us only happy, healthy and prosperous.  As we shall see, being only happy, healthy, and prosperous causes us to drift away from God, to forget about Him.  Comparing the church of Smyrna to the church of Laodicea shows us who God thinks is truly rich.  Ease and wealth always blinds us and causes us to drift from Jesus while persecution, poverty, and hard times drives us into dependence and the depths of God.  That's why the Church during this time period flourished and grew under the 200 years of Roman persecution.

This letter reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on God and not the things of this world.